June is Pride Month.
Freddie Mercury was a complicated person. His wild and flamboyant stage persona was a vast contrast to his quiet, reserved, almost shy, demeanor off-stage.
Raised in a strict Zoroastrianism family, he kept his homosexuality a secret from his parents, a decision that often troubled him. But young Freddie was somewhat of a child prodigy, mastering the piano at 7 years of age and displaying an impressive vocal range stemming from four extra incisors in his mouth.
Freddie’s collaboration with Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon is legendary and is undeniable in its significance and influence in the music world. However, a candid interview with Freddie revealed a surprising situation. When asked if he socialized with his bandmates, Freddie frowned and replied, “No. Not at all.” When pressed as to the reason, he smiled and elaborated: “We have different personalities and like different things. I like opera and the ballet. They just want to go to rock shows.”
Freddie Mercury died in November 1991 at the age of 45 — just one day after his public announcement that he had contracted AIDS.